Another chocolate recipe?
My goodness, you’d think this was some sort of chocolate-covered blog.
Oh wait; that’s right. It is.
The first time I tried a Larabar, I didn’t really like it. My mistake was in choosing a cherry-flavored bar. Someone should’ve shaken me and said, Hello! Of course you didn’t like it, Katie. It has no chocolate!”
When I tried a Jocalat chocolate Larabar, it was love at first bite. As a busy college student with no time to bake brownies, these bars offered a quick cure for my chocolate cravings (or a stopgap anyway. I doubt I will ever find a cure for my chocoholism… but that’s perfectly ok with me!)
Recently, I’ve been having trouble locating Jocalats. Thank goodness I know how to make my own chocolate Larabars.
Plus, they’re cheaper than store-bought and save packaging too.
Hot Fudge Brownie Larabars
Based on the recipe for Fudge Babies.
- 1 cup walnuts (120 g)
- 1 and 1/3 cups pitted dates (220 g) (I love SunMaid dates, as they’re much softer.)
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 3-4 tbsp cocoa powder (or even Dutch cocoa)
- optional: 1/8 plus 1/16 tsp salt (I always add it)
- optional: chocolate chips or even a piece of a chocolate bar or baking chocolate
Blend all the ingredients, using a food processor or Magic Bullet. No need to blend the dates first; I just blend everything all at once in my MB. If you use drier dates than SunMaid, you might have to add up to 1 tbsp water. Form into bars. It might help to put dough in a plastic bag and close the bag, then shape into a bar. (Feel free to experiment with different nut combinations. I often sub almonds or cashews for some of the walnuts.)
Click for more flavors: Homemade Larabar Recipes.
What are your favorite Larabar flavors?
One of my favorite homemade larabar flavors: Homemade Oatmeal Cookie Larabars.
As for the real Larabars, my favorite flavors are the plain chocolate Jocalats and the cookie dough Larabars. I love making up my own flavors and am thinking chocolate-raspberry might have to be next! Any other flavor suggestions for homemade Larabar recipes you’d like to see?
I also made these using raisins! excellent!!!! even better than the dates!
How long should they sit? I just them and the do not seem firm enough.
They should be firm right from the start. They should look and feel like the texture of Larabars.
Maybe add water next time?
I love the Coconut Cream Pie Larabar, absolutely delicious!!! Thanks for the chocolate fix recipe for these Larabars. 🙂
I just made these and they are seriously so good! Better than any Larabar I’ve had. Thank you!!!! I’m going to be so popular at work tomorrow 😛
I’m making these tonight, they sound fantastic. I’m going to feature you on my blog as well I think you have a pretty cool little niche here.
I LOVE your website/blog/recipes……everything!! I have made several of your larabar recipes (especially the Samoa ones!!). But mine NEVER EVER come out looking like yours. They never really hold together. What do you think I am doing wrong? I use a food processor and use the ingredients to a tee. I want to take these to a 4th of July party but I don’t want them to fall apart. Any suggestions?? Thanks!
I just made these and they are wonderful! Thank you!
I am in the process of changing the way I eat to a more balanced, more natural diet. Despite my efforts I still have a wicked sweet tooth and your recipes definitely hit the spot!
Me too! My first Larabar was the Cherry Pie flavor as well, and I didn’t like it! 🙂 I tried one again, this time choosing the Peanut Butter Cookie and LOVED it! (I love PB) Today, I like the Cherry Pie, but my favorite is the cc cookie dough. Oh, my question was: do roasted nuts work for homemade Larabars as opposed to raw? (such as Planters) Now I want to go eat a Larabar! 🙂
I like the Cherry Pie Larabars. Do you think you would soak the cherries first? Do the dates need soaking?
They don’t need soaking if you use super-soft ones like SunSweet. Otherwise I probably would. Not sure about the cherries, though.
OMG these are amazing. am a newcomer to your website — have tried your 1-min cake for hubby’s birthday yesterday and today i made the larabars. now, am a total convert to the CCK worldview!!! thank you so much for taking the time to figure these out and for posting them.
my modifications — used pecans (since am allergic to walnuts) and added a scoop of vanilla flavoured whey protein powder + 1T of water (omitted the tsp of vanilla extract). the bars turned out delicious and moist. love, love, love that these don’t need to be baked. (not so) sadly, ate about a quarter of the mix by the time i finished making these bars for work 🙂
I tried to make these in my magic bullet and I couldn’t get it to blend together. It’s like it was too much for the magic bullet….what’s your secret???
Is there a replacement for the walnuts? I grew up with walnut trees on our property and if I never eat another one, I might die happy.
Thank you!!
Try cashews or macadamia nuts or pecans.
Hi Katie! I just was wondering how long these would last at room temperature, as I’m going on a 16 day trek to Everest base camp and am worried about the food options as a vegan, so having some of your amazing bars would be such a relief in case theres nothing for me to eat! Any help you or anyone else could give would be hugely appreciated 🙂 Thanks so much xx
They are fine for a few days at room temp. Maybe not 16, but five or six would probably be ok. 🙂
I hope that it’s okay that I reblogged this, of course, saying you were the original awesome person to make this (I even talked you up a bit!)! I made a tiny change or two – made them into balls, like truffles almost! http://blog.adriennerose.me/2013/09/homemade-larabar-bites-paleo.html
This is a super seriously amazing recipe, Katie! Thank you so much for sharing!
The clouds have parted and there are angels singing! I have my own variations to the Larabar, but I needed inspiration. Now I don’t even need inspiration because you have provided SO many recipes! THANK you! I smell a Larabar post on my blog! (all links to your blog, don’t worry) 😉
oh yes, these babies are delicious! so stoked to have stumbled across this post. I am currently doing the Whole 30 deal and this has been a perfect treat. Can’t wait to try the other recipes!